This is the first case that two synagogues from the Second Temple period are in the same settlement. "The discovery of a second synagogue in the Galilee settlement sheds light on the social and religious life of the Jews in the Galilee during this period and indicates the need for a special structure for studying and reading the Torah and social gathering," said Dina Avshalom Gurani from the University of Haifa, a partner in the management of the excavations
A 2000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple period has been uncovered these days in Migdal, a large Jewish settlement from the Second Temple period, which served as Joseph's main base during his war with the Romans in the Galilee during the Great Revolt. This is the second synagogue from this period to be uncovered in the tower, and this is the first case uncovered so far of the existence of two synagogues in any settlement from the Second Temple period, a period when the Temple in Jerusalem still stands.
The archaeological excavations at the site are being conducted by YG Archeology Contract Ltd. headed by Dr. Yehuda Gubrin and under the scientific auspices of the Zinman Institute of Archeology at the University of Haifa. The excavation is being carried out as part of a tender by Netibi Israel as a salvage excavation for the expansion of Highway 90 (Migdal intersection).
"The discovery of a second synagogue in the Galilee settlement sheds light on the social and religious life of the Jews in the Galilee during this period and indicates the need for a special structure for studying and reading the Torah and social gathering. The discovery of the new synagogue in Migdal, with its many finds, such as pottery candles, glass bowls made in a pattern, coins and the stone vessels used for purification, indicates the connection of Migdal Jews with Jerusalem and the Temple," said Dina Avshalom Gurani from the University of Haifa, a partner in the management of the excavations.
Migdal, which is located on the northwest side of the Kinneret, was about 2000 years ago a large Jewish settlement, when during the destruction of the Second Temple it was used as the main base of Joseph ben Mattathias in his war against the Romans in the Galilee. Migdal is also mentioned in Christian writings as the birthplace of Mary Magdalene, who was a central supporter of Jesus and was known as the "send of the apostles".
The eastern side of Migdal was excavated more than a decade ago by the Antiquities Authority (under the direction of Dina Avshalom Gurani) and in these excavations a synagogue was discovered, which also dates back to the days of the Second Temple. In the center of the synagogue was found a unique stone with a relief of a lamp with seven reeds, and the explanation of the researchers was that the artist who engraved the menorah reproduced the menorah that was placed in the temple. This stone is currently on display in the Israel Antiquities Authority's exhibition "The Sanhedrin Trail" at Beit Yigal Alon.
The synagogue that was excavated these days, was partially revealed for the first time in test excavations carried out by the Antiquities Authority at the beginning of the year for Israel Routes under the direction of Barak Tzin. The Antiquities Authority indicated in the excavations the existence of a public building from the Roman period, but because only a small part of it was excavated, there was no definition regarding the nature of the building and its use. The continuation of the current salvage excavation revealed a wide and square building built of basalt and limestone stones, with a central hall and two additional rooms. The walls of the central hall are plastered with white and colored plaster and next to them a stone bench was built, which is also plastered. The ceiling of the hall, which was probably made of wood and mortar, was supported by six pillars, of which two stone bases have been preserved in situ. A small room on the south side of the hall has a plastered stone shelf and may have been used as a room for storing the scrolls.
During the excavations of 2009, it was actually the first synagogue from the Second Temple period discovered in the Galilee - and the ninth in the whole country. Since then, another synagogue from the period has been discovered in the Galilee and now not only has another synagogue been found, but it is the first time that a second synagogue has been discovered in the same settlement. According to the researchers, this discovery sheds new light on Jewish life in the days of the Second Temple. "During this period, the Temple still existed, so the explanation was that the paucity of evidence on synagogues was due to the fact that it might not have been a common structure. That is, in light of the centrality of worship in Jerusalem, perhaps there was no need for many synagogues in the settlements themselves," said Prof. Adi Ehrlich, head of the Institute of Archeology at the University of Haifa.
However, finding two synagogues in a settlement of several thousand residents - and at a distance of less than 200 meters from each other, now changes the picture. "The fact that we found two synagogues indicates that the Jews of the Second Temple period were looking for a place for religious gathering and perhaps also social gathering. The fact that we found the other synagogue in a stone tower with a temple lamp engraved on it shows us that they did see Jerusalem as the religious center - and the local activity took place in the shadow of Jerusalem's centrality and subordinated to it. The current synagogue we are excavating is adjacent to a residential street. The synagogue excavated in 2009 was surrounded by an industrial area. So the local synagogues were actually built within the social fabric of the settlement", Avshalom Gorani concluded.
"The importance of the safety project that we are establishing at Natibi Israel here at the Migdal junction on the banks of the Sea of Galilee will enable the saving of human lives and the prevention of traffic accidents. As an engineer for many years, I am proud that thanks to the present and future projects of the Israel Routes Company, we have the privilege of discovering such amazing findings about the glorious past of the Land of Israel," said Shay Klartag of Israel Routes. Dr. Yehuda Gubrin points out that the intention of all involved parties is to act in favor of preserving the synagogue on its site, and making it accessible to visitors in the future, in coordination with the authorities.
According to Eli Escozido, director of the Antiquities Authority, "the importance of the find, which was first discovered in the excavation of the Antiquities Authority and which is being revealed today in the excavation of the Haifa University expedition, is great. During the coming weeks, we will hold a discussion regarding the possibility of developing the site as a site that receives an audience."
The synagogue and the findings of the excavation will be presented for the first time at the conference of the Institute of Archeology which will be held at the University of Haifa and will be broadcast simultaneously on December 28.
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The main thing is that she came to take a picture with the broom, as if she were participating in the digging. Like the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies who pose for the newspaper in a white coat.